Alpesh Patel

Born in the Ugandan jungle while his parents were there on safari, Mi-Fone’s CEO and Founder, Alpesh Patel, is the true meaning of “Indian Blood…African Heart”. This original African Indian Entrepreneur made a name for himself selling large volumes of Mobile devices to the Chinese back in the 90s.

Alpesh founded Mi-Fone in 2008 the FIRST AFRICAN Mobile Devices brand after leaving Motorola where he was their Director of Sales in Africa .With Motorola , Alpesh placed more than 5m devices into the continent generating revenues upwards of $500m. Whilst there, he realized that the big brands were missing the point and that ultimately Africa was best served by Africans themselves. His 20 years of experience in the mobile business is not to be taken lightly, and he is well respected on the continent for his knowledge. He is known to be one of the hardest working people in the African Telco space. Often quoted as “An Innovator, a Disruptor and a true African Visionary” .

Alpesh and the Mi Fone brand have been regularly featured on CNN , Forbes Africa, CNBC Africa and numerous other press and has been the recipient of the Frost & Sullivan 2014 award for “Entrepreneurial company of the Year ” . Alpesh has a deep love for Design, Style, Good food ,Good music and Good education. After living in 5 continents around the world, he now maintains residences in Dubai and South Africa… and of course has a resident seat on most Emirates flights!

In 2012, Alpesh restructured the company and formed Mi-Group International Ltd as the Parent holding company which now co owns Mi- Fone the Device and Mobile Services business and OJU Africa Ltd ( The Worlds First Afro Emoticon Character Brand) . In 2015 Mi Fone received its first inward investment after 7 years of bootstrapping and is now backed by one of South Africa’s largest conglomerates . By 2020 Mi Fone aims to place at least 50m Smartphone devices into the hands of mass market African consumers and in turn ensuring greater productivity and greater prosperity for a Continent that has been considered the “fastest growth market on the planet ”